A New Era Begins

I would like to thank our gracious sponsors for their support in creating Graphic Arts Wide Format Guide 2019/20. The Wide Format Guide was mailed with the October issue of Graphic Arts, and is a special resource to help printers across Canada explore Wide Format technologies and all the possibilities that can be taken advantage of in this growing segment. We hope you enjoy it!
Our team had a busy month for events in October, starting first with a fabulous time at Print 19 in Chicago on October 3rd-5th, 2019. But even with the show being so great,  it was somewhat of a bittersweet occasion, as I have led Graphic Arts to McCormick Place every fall for the past 20+ years. The spirit in Chicago is special, and we will miss the wonderful people we meet and the great friends we made throughout the years.
The many nights we shared together at the Standard Horizon parties at Buddy Guy’s Legends were unforgettable, and I would like to thank all who made this possible, especially Don Dubuque for his warm welcome each year. I would also like to thank Jodie Hayes and her team at  Association for PRINT Technologies, for their endless support throughout the years. All the highlights from Print 19 can be found on pages 32-33 of the magazine.
While Print 20 won’t be occurring at McCormick Place in Chicago, we are very excited for the relaunch next year at Brand Print America 2020, which will be held in combination with Label Expo in Rosemont, Illinois from September 14th-16th,2020.
Next in October, we visited Dallas, Texas for the inaugural PRINTING United show from the 23rd- 25th… and it was a wonderful experience! As I walked through the massive halls of the Kay Bailey Hutchison Center, I was encouraged by the energy from the crowds of people exchanging ideas with one another. With over 30,000 attendees visiting nearly 680 exhibitors in one giant room, it was clear that print is again flourishing!  
The energy and excitement at industry gatherings had been fading in recent years, but I am excited to have witnesses an industry regeneration in Dallas. For those with any notion that print is a dying medium, I urge them to attend PRINTING United next year in Atlanta, Georgina, where things are set to be even Bigger, Better and Bolder than they were this year in Dallas! You can see highlights from PRINTING United on pages 20, 22, 23 and 24
Also be sure to check out Diana Varma’s lead story entitled, Trust Me, which is a fascinating read for all professionals looking to lead their teams into greatness as 2019 concludes. I would also like to welcome two new writers, Laura McLoughlin and Christine Laperriere. Their articles are must-reads, and can be found in the magazine on page 31 and page 34 respectively.
We are also pleased to announce the 2020 Editorial Calendar is now available. I am excited about the direction our editorial department is heading, and look forward to providing focused content for our faithful audiences to enjoy. Please inquire with any questions, as a member of our team would love to speak with you.
As always, stay focused and stay positive,
Joe Mulcahy